LG OLED B6 Review (OLED65B6P, OLED55B6P)

Overview

In 2016, LG has released 4 models for their OLED 4K TV series, G6, E6, C6, and B6. LG OLED B6 (OLED65B6P, OLED55B6P) is the lowest models among them and the only one that is not equipped with 3D technology. The main advantage of B6 series than the other series, B6 offers more affordable price but comes with the performance that is almost similar to the series above, except about 3D because there is no 3D technology on B6 series. Actually, with the release of B6 series, this gives a distinct advantage for consumers. Why is that? Because as mentioned, with the price is much cheaper, B6 offers display performance that is much different than the series above even for G6 series as top models.

In the market, LG B6 is available on 2 screen sizes, OLED65B6P with 65 inch and OLED55B6P in 55 Inch. The lowest possible of OLED TV’s price, it is still expensive compared to LED TV. For OLED55B6P it is sold at the price about $2500 while OLED65B6P is sold at the price about $4000. Of course this price is still expensive although it is the cheapest price of LG OLED TV. But of course this is not a fixed price because as time goes by, these prices certainly could still change at any time.

The Performance of LG OLED B6

One of the main advantages OLED TV than LED TV, it can deliver perfect black that allows it can delivers infinite contrast. This thanks to pixel dimming where each of pixels can turn on/off individually without being influenced by others. So, it doesn’t need backlight. Additionally, LG B6 series also offers superb performance in color quality. With the perfect dark, contrast level and wide color gamut, this certainly will offers stunning display performance whether it is in HDR picture or non HDR. In addition to display performance, LG OLED B6 also offers attractive smart TV and impressive audio performance.

Picture Quality

As a part of LG LED TV, Picture quality certainly is the flagship of LG OLED B6. Moreover, it already supports HDR 10 and Dolby Vision, two most popular HDR format. Perfect black level, strong contrast, superb color performance is an overview of the picture produced by LG B6 series. Let’s discuss one by one picture elements of LG B6 series.

Before we discuss the performance of B6 series, it would be better if we discuss first the display specs that should be met for a 4K TV for meeting the standardization of HDR 10 set UHD Alliance to get Ultra HD Premium label. For Black level and brightness, there are two options that should be met by a 4K TV. First, 1000 nits peak brightness with 0.05 nit black level and the second, 540 nits with 0.0005 nits peak brightness. Because OLED TV including B6 can deliver almost zero nits of black level, of course about black level standardization is not a problem for OLED B6. While for peak brightness, LG B6 series can reach 787 nits of peak brightness in a 10 % size of window, even for sustained a 10 % size of window measurement, it also can reach 787 nits. For OLED TV, this value is really impressive because the brightest OLED TV in last year only can reach abut 550 nits. With this specs, of course OLED B6 can meet the second standardization of HDR 10 that is 540 nits of peak brightness and 0.0005 nits of black level.

Moving on color performance, with OLED technology that insert whit sub-pixel on standard RGB sub-pixels, color of LG OLED B6 series can cover about 93% DCI P3 color space while HDR 10 set 90% DCI P3 color space that should be reached by an HDR 4K TV. While in term of depth of color, display spec of LG B6 is supports 10 bits color, a minimum standardization set by UHD Alliance. 10 bits color means it can delivers more than 1.07 billion shades of color that makes finer color gradation than 8 bit depth of color.

With great display specs on peak brightness, black level, contrast and color, of course this make LG B6 delivers HDR picture in the tru-amazing quality as was intended. Moreover, it is powered by HDR processor called OLED HDR with Dolby Vision embedded on its picture engine. This allows you to enjoy HDR picture in two HDR formats at once. But as note, Dolby Vision set higher standardization than HDR 10. For color performance, Dolby Vision Set Rec. 2020 color space and 12 bit depth of color, while for peak brightness, Dolby sets 1000 nits with 4000 nits current target. For this while, there is no one 4K TVs that can reach this standardization including B6 series. But at least, LG OLED B6 can play Dolby Vision Contents that Vudu, Netflix, or Amazon. Additionally, some houses of movies production also began to produce movies in Dolby Vision Format.

One of many advantages of OLED TV than LED TV is about its viewing angle. Because it doesn’t use backlight, OLED TV including B6 series also offers wide viewing angle. This means, there is no picture degradation from extremely side viewing angle. What is reached by OLED TV cannot be achieved by LED TV even with IPS panel. This gives you a benefit in placing your TV or your seats in your room. With other words, wherever you sit for watching TV, you will get the best viewing.

Motion Control

The perfect performance of LG OLED B6 is when it is controlling motion picture. This can be said perfect because there is no motion blur noticeable when it displays video contents with fast scenes like sport or fast movies. But unfortunately, in certain 24p contents, the performance of LG B6 series is still inconsistent particularly when sent 24p contents over 60p and 60i signals. The judder may be reduced by set “TruMotion” to user and set “De-Blur and “De-judder” to 0, but nonetheless, this cannot eliminate completely the judder.

UHD Up-Scaling Engine

The great performance of LG OLED B6 series is also shown when it is handling video contents with lower resolution. We all know, most of the contents that available in the market still have 1080p to lower resolution. There may 4K contents that available, but they are not a lot. Fortunately, LG B6 has done its job very well when up-scaling to 4K quality. When it is up-scaling 480p like DVD contents, the result looks finer than the original as well as when up-scaling HD contents or 720p like from Cable TV or other HD sources. Moreover for 1080p contents like from full HD Blu-ray, the up-scaled picture produced looks really fine and smooth, approached to the native 4K sources, even it is much better than when played in full HD 1080p TV.

Smart TV

As its platform, LG B6 Series features WebOS 3.0. It is third version of WebOS. Entering in its third years, some of the problems found in two previous versions have been fixed like its 4K streaming ability and more. User interface also been re-arranged so makes the users more comfort to operate. Some of the advantages of WebOS than other platform are about its usability, simplicity, the speed change between apps. Boot time is also fast and slight slower than android TV. One of the benefits, its interface layout is designed in such a manner so makes you easier to organize and sorting your favorites programs. With all that offered by WebOS, this makes it become one of the best and most enjoyable Smart TV platforms that ever.

To support HDR, LG provides VoD Apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon that can stream and play two HDR formats, HDR 10 and Dolby Vision. There is also fast and lightweight browser that makes you more comfort when surfing in the internet. With LG Player Music, you can put into function of LG OLED B6 as though as music jukebox because it can play music while your TV is turning off. Additionally, there is also LG Content Store that provides tons of contents and apps. Overall, apps and features that offered by WebOS 3.0 are very complete although its competitor like Tizen OS or Android TVs, they provides more apps selection.

The icon of WebOS is LG Magic Remote. As we know with their useful functions like “point and click”, voice navigation and the others, it makes you easier and more comfort when browsing, managing apps, and other operation.

The advantage of sound system of LG B6 series, it is designed by premium audio manufacturers HarmanKardon. This makes its performance is above average. Lack of woofer compared to other models of LG’s 2016 OLED TV may reduce its performance at low frequency or bass but even so, it is still better than audio system of most of 4K TVs that available in the market. Unlike the shortcoming in picture quality, the shortcoming in its audio performance in low frequency or bass is actually easy resolved. You just need add a sound bar, the problem is solved.

Conclusion

As mentioned, LG B6 Series is the lowest model of LG’s 2016 OLED TV lineup. The cheaper price and picture performance that is not inferior too far to other models gives you a solution to enjoy picture in premium quality but with affordable price. But even so, don’t ever expect about its great 3D performance because LG B6 series is not equipped with 3D technology.

But separated from lack of 3D technology, LG B6 series offers stunning picture quality in HDR and HDR quality. The perfect performance is about black level where this allows it to produces infinite contrast. Additionally, although not as bright as Top model LED TV like Samsung SUHD TVS, but peak brightness of OLD B6 series is very strong for OLED, even surpass the peak brightness set by UHD Alliance for Ultra HD premium that is 540 nits. The other benefits, LG OLED B6 support two HDR format at once, HDR 10 and Dolby Vision. In addition stunning performance in HDR, OLED B6 series also offers great performance in viewing angle, UHD Up-scaling, and Motion Clarity.

Smart TV is also its own interesting feature offered by LG B6 series. With WebOS 3.0 as its platform, it offers simple, attractive, and fast smart TV. Additionally, apps featured are also enough complete. The other strong point, LG OLED B6 series comes with audio system designed by Harman Kardon that makes its audio performance above average.

Although it is the lowest models of LG’s 2016 OLED TV lineup and its price is much cheaper than the series above, but in term of picture quality, it is not far behind them. Infinite Contrast and perfect black level are the main excellence over LED TV. This allows B6 series delivers stunning quality in HDR. Support two HDR formats at once, HDR 10 and Dolby Vision, this makes you more freely to enjoy HDR contents. But even so, although it is compatible with Dolby Vision Contents, its display specs are still inadequate to meet the standardization set for Dolby Vision.

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